Miscanthus

Miscanthus cvs. have been popular in Europe for more than 100 years, but they did not make an appearance in domestic gardens until relatively recently. We started propagating grasses in 1995. Since then we have successfully encouraged gardeners in the North East, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and the Midlands to make Miscanthus cvs a feature in their planting schemes. They are clump formers - not runners.

Making a choice

We suggest customers wanting a Miscanthus, but unsure which cultivar, should consider height, leaf width, and forms of inflorescences [flowerheads]. Miscanthus cvs range in height from 45cm [18"] to 3.0m [10ft]. Stripes and variegation may also be an issue.

Smaller cultivars

Three cultivars Miscanthus sinensis 'Adagio', 'Silberspinne' and 'Nippon' are about 90cm in height and narrow leaved with upright inflorescences. They are good choices for containers,mixed borders and gravel beds. We have used them to good effect in municipal planting schemes.

The narrow leaved and subtle variegated form Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light' is of similar height.

Middle Range

The medium height cultivars [1.5 - 1.8m] [ 5 - 6ft] work well in mixed borders, as screens and individual statements. In autumn they provide structure to a garden, and in the the wind they add drama. If you wish to put them in pots, the containers will have to be substantial to avoid instability.

The grasses in this group have leaves of medium width and slightly broader. Their inflorescences vary in form and colour. Most notable is Miscanthus sinensis 'Malepartus' shown here in a mixed border at Wollerton Old Hall in September.

Its inflorescences are dark red when the grass is planted in acid soil. A high pH makes the colour much less pronounced.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Ferner Osten' and M.s. 'Rotsilber' also offer more colour. A particular favourite with us and customers is Miscanthus sinensis 'China' [height 1.2m].

This picture shows a good specimen growing in a friend's lawn near the path to her front door.

Big & Bold

When customers are looking for very tall grasses we are sometimes asked "What have you got for wild life area that doesn't require any maintenance?"

Miscanthus x giganteus [Elephant Grass] at 2.4m [8ft] is a possible solution and like other Miscanthus will not run. Unless we have an exceptionally hot summer it will not flower in North Linconshire. In autumn it turns yellow.

An interesting cultivar of Miscanthus xgiganteus is 'Gilt Edge'. It is much slower growing, not as tall, the wide leaves, but as the name implies with a yellow edge.

We find them difficult to produce in any numbers.

Exceptions

Miscanthus sinensis cvs. do not run, but form clumps. As a rough guide the number of stems {culms] doubles each year. The one exception is Miscanthus x giganteus 'Gotemba' (v) which is a beautiful, golden variegated thug. On no account should it be planted in a garden. The place for it is a pot.

Miscanthus nepalensis as the name implies hails from the Himalayas and grows at altitudes of 3,000m in very poor stony soil. It has wonderful. toffee coloured plumes and in all the but the very coldest winters will survive in very well drained soil.

All in one season

On the page Care & Maintenance we explained that the old stems of Miscanthus should be cut down almost to ground level in March or April when the new stems are about 10cm high.

Unlike shrubs and trees these grasses grow from nothing to full height in one year, and as a rough guide the number of stems doubles each year.

Warm season grasses

Miscanthus are described as "warm season grasses" and must only be divided in late spring or early summer.

Our Grasses List

Our on line list contains the Miscanthus cvs. we have in reasonable numbers, but there are many more cultivars in the nursery. It is worth contacting us [01724 733940 or 07875732535] if there is a particular Miscanthus you are looking for.